Picture Show – Dec 19th 1959
PAUL MASSIE
The Romeo Who Nearly Lost His Pants!
CANADA’s loss is Britain’s gain, for young and handsome Canadian Paul Massie, who hit our shores a few years ago, has become the bright hope of our film world.
He bubbled over with enthusiasm as be told me of his new film – The Two Faces Of Dr. Jekyll. In this picture be will play the part of Mr. Hyde and on the afternoon I met him he had undergone costume fittings in preparation for this role. His aim, at the time, was to try to persuade the producers that be should not only play Mr. Hyde but Dr. Jekyll (the minor role) also. He felt that the two characters should be played by the same man. He being that particular man! Well, Mr. Massie, that problem is no doubt settled by now and I sincerely hope you achieved your wish.
Paul told me that be is of French-Irish descent-his father being a French Baptist vicar who had to bring up five children, Paul, his elder brother and three sisters, so there was never very much money. Nevertheless his family were very good to him, especially when he first came to England when they helped to pay towards his support.
Born Arthur Masse on July 7th, 1932, at St. Catherines, Ontario, during his early childhood he appeared in some of the Ottawa Children’s Theatre productions and in a film for the National Film Board of Canada on Mental Health.
When at University, ostensibly studying journalism, be spent so much time swimming, ski-ing, playing tennis and appearing on the stage that “I was politely asked to leave.”
Before arriving in England in 1952 to attend the Central School of Speech and Drama in London he bad been a market gardener, a truck driver in Toronto and had gone on a survey expedition to the Arctic.
Joining the Scottish Children’s Theatre Group in Glasgow gave him a taste of touring in one-night stands and was probably his best school of training for it taught him that- “If you can capture children’s attention you can almost certainly hold an adult audience.”
In 1954 be commenced his Forces training and, on being commissioned in the Royal Artillery, was sent to Hong Kong. His first radio experience occurred there when he was asked to commentate on a Chinese horse-race.
“Not only did all the jockeys look alike but their names were unpronounceable. I gave up in the end and described the scenery. I was never asked to commentate again!”
His film career started with a very small part in High Tide At Noon, then came his starring role in Orders To Kill, followed by Sapphire and now Libel which is to be generally released next month. Paul has high regard for both Anthony Asquith who directed Libel and Dirk Bogarde who has the leading role and would like to work with them again.
He has also starred on the London stage in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and on TV his most recent role being in the ABC Armchair – Theatre presentation of The Last Of The Brave with Donald Wolfit.
Bristol has just had the pleasure of his company for he’s been appearing in Romeo And Juliet.
During one performance he had a very embarrassing moment. It occurred during the highly dramatic scene when Romeo has to kill Tybalt after Tybalt has killed Mercutio in a sword fight. Humorously Paul explained – “I felt my pants begin to fall down as I climbed the steps to go on stage – I missed my cue but unable to fix them carried on. Picking up Mercutio’s sword with my arm fastening my lower garments to my side was very difficult and then I had to go through the motions of killing Tybalt!”
Whenever he can afford to he visits his family in Canada and this year went there on honeymoon. Paul told me “I met my wife on my second day in Britain but we were friends for seven years before we got married.”
It was on July 4th that Anne and he finally tied the knot.
Her very candid husband said of her – “She was a terrible actress, just terrible, and knowing it she decided not to waste her secretarial training. Now she’s a housewife – the only secretarial work she does is mine.”
Apart from their flat in town, Anne and Paul have a cottage near the sea in Sussex which has been decorated throughout mostly by Paul, who is now busily attacking the nettles in the garden.
His tremendous energy still finds an outlet in sport, mainly swimming, ski-ing, waterski- ing and golf in which Anne is also gaining an interest.
Admitting that he has no desire to be anything other than an actor Paul says he gets very cantankerous when not working (I found this hard to believe for he seemed to be such a very relaxed and humorous person).
He would like to have the experience of working in Hollywood but otherwise seems fairly settled in this country.
